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Key aspects of implementation of the National List of Essential Medicines presented to stakeholders

2 April 2018

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In 2018, within the framework of cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the SAFEMed Project ("Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines for Ukrainians"), which is the five-year project for support of the Ukrainian government in implementing healthcare reform and managing medicines through strengthening pharmaceutical sector governance, optimizing pharmaceutical sector finance, and ensuring improved availability and effective use of essential medicines.

On March 29, 2018, the SAFEMed team organized the first meeting with doctors, pharmaceutical manufacturers and patient organizations, during which the participants discussed the priorities for further work on implementation of the National list of Essential Medicines in Ukraine, as well as development of other state policies for ensuring effective use of safe high-quality medicines.

"Our Ministry is completely transforming the Ukrainian industry, including improving accessibility and use of essential medicines in health care. It has already been a year since the launch of the Affordable Medicines National Prescription Drugs Reimbursement Program, and we are now introducing the list of essential medicinesaimed at satisfying the basic health care needs of each patient during his/her hospital stay. These policies are not simple. This is why the support of foreign partners means so much to us. Thanks to the US Government support, the SAFEMed project will assist the MoH along this journey. I am confident that this will help us adopt the best international practices in Ukraine and make high-quality effective medicines available to every Ukrainian" noted Roman Ilyk, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine.

"The SAFEMed project begins its work in Ukraine. Our main goal is to provide comprehensive expert support to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in implementing qualitative changes and healthcare reforms to ensure that the population of Ukraine is provided with medicinal products. Our aim is to help the Ukrainian government integrate the new healthcare financing principles and provide patients with safe and effective medicines" commented Juanita Folmsbee, the SAFEMed Project Director for Ukraine.